U.S. patent number 6,814,242 [Application Number 10/202,061] was granted by the patent office on 2004-11-09 for rotatively oscillating separator.
This patent grant is currently assigned to Satake Corporation. Invention is credited to Chozaburo Ikuta, Masashi Kageyama, Shigeki Kinoshita, Hideaki Masukane, Haruyoshi Yamaguchi.
United States Patent |
6,814,242 |
Masukane , et al. |
November 9, 2004 |
Rotatively oscillating separator
Abstract
A rotatively oscillating separator comprising separating vessels
4 each having cone-shaped separating plate 5 disposed in the
vessel, and drive means 6 for rotatively oscillating said
separating vessels 4, mixed rice consisting of unhulled rice and
unpolished rice being fed onto the separating plates in the
separating vessels at a given location to separate the unhulled
rice and the unpolished rice from each other, the unpolished rice
being discharged through raised peripheral portions of the vessels,
and the unhulled rice being discharged through the central bottoms
of the separating vessels. The drive means comprises a plurality of
oscillatory drives provided at locations equi-angularly spaced
around the separating vessels 4, said oscillatory drives each being
upwardly inclined and operatively connected to the raised
peripheral portion of the separating vessel to support it, said
oscillatory drives being sequentially actuated at predetermined
phases of delay to generate oscillatory motion to be imparted to
the separating vessels, said each oscillatory drive including an
oscillatory angle adjusting mechanism 40 for retaining the
oscillatory drive at the upward inclination and for varying an
oscillatory angle in the rotative oscillation of the separating
vessels.
Inventors: |
Masukane; Hideaki (Chiyoda-Ku,
JP), Kinoshita; Shigeki (Chiyoda-Ku, JP),
Kageyama; Masashi (Chiyoda-Ku, JP), Ikuta;
Chozaburo (Chiyoda-Ku, JP), Yamaguchi; Haruyoshi
(Chiyoda-Ku, JP) |
Assignee: |
Satake Corporation (Tokyo,
JP)
|
Family
ID: |
19059290 |
Appl.
No.: |
10/202,061 |
Filed: |
July 25, 2002 |
Foreign Application Priority Data
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Jul 26, 2001 [JP] |
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2001-226483 |
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Current U.S.
Class: |
209/691; 209/274;
209/365.1; 209/365.4; 209/366 |
Current CPC
Class: |
B07B
13/11 (20130101); B07B 13/10 (20130101) |
Current International
Class: |
B07B
13/10 (20060101); B07B 13/11 (20060101); B07C
009/01 () |
Field of
Search: |
;209/365.1,365.4,366,274,275,276,277,691 |
References Cited
[Referenced By]
U.S. Patent Documents
Foreign Patent Documents
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60-36399 |
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Oct 1985 |
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JP |
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2000-343042 |
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Dec 2000 |
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JP |
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Primary Examiner: Walsh; Donald P.
Assistant Examiner: Miller; Jonathan R
Attorney, Agent or Firm: Nixon Peabody, LLP Studebaker;
Donald R.
Claims
What is claimed is:
1. A rotatively oscillating separator comprising at least one
separating vessel having a raised peripheral portion and a
cone-shaped separating plate disposed in the vessel, and drive
means for rotatively oscillating said separating vessel, mixed rice
consisting of unhulled rice and unpolished rice being fed onto the
separating plate in the separating vessel at a given location to
separate the unhulled rice and the unpolished rice from each other,
the unpolished rice being discharged through a portion of the
raised peripheral portion, and the unhulled rice being discharged
through a central bottom of the separating vessel, characterized in
that said drive means comprises a plurality of oscillatory drives
provided at locations equi-angularly spaced around the separating
vessel, said oscillatory drives each being upwardly inclined and
operatively connected to the raised peripheral portion of the
separating vessel to support the separating vessel, said
oscillatory drives being sequentially actuated at predetermined
phases of delay to generate oscillatory motion to be imparted to
the separating vessel, said each oscillatory drive including an
oscillatory angle adjusting mechanism for retaining the oscillatory
drive at the upward inclination and for varying an oscillatory
angle in the rotative oscillation of the separating vessel.
2. A rotativelly oscillating separator according to claim 1,
wherein said each oscillatory drive is provided in a support frame
pivotally connected to a framework of the separator by means of
pivot pins and includes a motor, a gearbox for transmission of
rotation from the motor, a driving shaft having at its top a
crank-pin and connected to an output shaft of the gearbox, an
oscillatory plate having an eccentric shaft and rotatably connected
to the crank-pin, and means for preventing the oscillatory plate
from revolving together with the crank-pin, and further comprising
means for operatively connecting said oscillatory drive to said
separating vessel, said means including a connecting member
resiliently connected to the raised peripheral portion of the
separating vessel and having mounting hub, and a follower rotatably
connected to said eccentric shaft.
3. A rotatively oscillating separator according to claim 1 or 2,
wherein each of said oscillatory angle adjusting mechanisms
includes an adjusting screw mechanism for rotating the support
frame around the pivot pins to vary the inclination of the support
frame.
4. A rotatively oscillating separator according to claim 3, wherein
said each adjusting screw mechanism includes an internally threaded
element freely movably mounted in the support frame, a vertical
adjusting screw rod rotatably mounted in the framework for the
rotatively oscillating separator and having an externally threaded
portion threaded into the internally threaded element, and a
hand-wheel for rotating the adjusting screw rod.
5. A rotatively oscillating separator according to claim 4, wherein
said adjusting screw mechanisms include a rotation transmitting
mechanism including sprockets on the adjusting screw rods and a
chain engaged around the sprockets to rotate the adjusting screw
rods in a synchronized relation.
6. A rotatively oscillating separator according to claim 3, wherein
said each adjusting screw mechanisms includes an internally
threaded element rotatably mounted in the framework, a support
element having an enlarged through-hole formed therein, and
rotatably mounted in said support frame, an adjusting screw rod
extending through said enlarged through hole and having an
externally threaded portion threaded into said internally threaded
element, and means for fixedly holding said adjusting screw rod in
place.
7. A rotatively oscillating separator according to claim 1, wherein
there are provided a plurality of separating vessels disposed in a
vertically stacked relation, a plurality of sets of upper and lower
oscillatory drives are provided at locations equi-angularly spaced
around the separating vessels, said upper and lower oscillatory
drives of each set, are operatively connected through said
connecting member and resistent joints to said separating vessels
and include a common oscillatory angle adjusting mechanism for
retaining the oscillatory drives at the upward inclination and for
varying an oscillatory angle in the rotative oscillation of said
separating vessels.
8. A rotatively oscillating separator according to claim 1, wherein
there are provided a plurality of separating vessels disposed in a
vertically stacked relation, a plurality of sets of upper and lower
oscillatory drives are provided at locations equi-angularly spaced
around the separating vessels, each of said upper and lower
oscillatory drives of each set, is operatively connected through
said connecting member and resilient joints to said stacked
separating vessels and includes an individual oscillatory angle
adjusting mechanism for retaining the oscillatory drive at the
upward inclination and for varying an oscillatory angle in the
rotative oscillation of said separating vessels.
Description
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
This invention relates to oscillating separators for separating
unhulled rice and unpolished rice from each other after hulling
rice, and more particularly, a rotatively oscillating separator for
separating unhulled rice and unpolished rice from each other by
rotatively oscillating a cone-shaped separating plate.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The applicant has proposed in Japanese Patent Application Heisei
11-156994 a rotatively oscillating separator for separating mixed
rice into unhulled rice and unpolished rice by rotatively
oscillating a cone-shaped separating plate composed of a plurality
of segments. This rotatively oscillating separator comprises a
vertical rotating shaft, a drive for rotatively driving the shaft,
a plurality of eccentric portions on the rotating shaft, the
eccentric shaft portions being offset a predetermined distance from
the axis of the rotating shaft, circular separating vessels each
rotatably mounted on each of the eccentric shaft portions and
having a cone-shaped separating plate contained therein, retaining
means for preventing the separating vessels from freely rotating,
and means for adjusting an angle of inclination of the separating
plate segments. There is provided a level sensor for sensing the
thickness of a layer of mixed rice on the separating plate, an
outlet from the sensor being sent to a controller to control the
angle adjusting means for the separating plate segments, thereby
maintaining the layer of mixed rice at a predetermined
thickness.
The rotating oscillating separator of this type has a disadvantage
that each of the separating vessels requires the use of angle
adjusting means for the separating plate segments, this resulting
in increase in manufacture costs. Since the adjusting means is
disposed below the separating plate, the two adjacent separating
plates are required to have enough space therebetween to
accommodate the adjusting means. This makes it difficult to arrange
the entire rotatively oscillating separator into a compact
configuration.
Japanese Utility Model Publication Sho 60-36399 discloses a grain
oscillating separator comprising grain separating plates inclined
laterally, rocking arm means for oscillating the separating plates,
and means for varying an rocking angle .theta. 2 of the rocking arm
means on the upstream side in the lateral direction of the
separating plates, without varying an angle of inclination .alpha.
of the separating plates. The variation of rocking angle makes it
optimum to separate the mixed rice into unhulled rice and
unpolished rice while the mixed rice flowing longitudinally on the
separating plates. However, this arrangement can not be applied to
cone-shaped separating plates.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
An object of the invention is to provide a rotatively oscillating
separator of the type which rotatively oscillates separating
vessels each having a cone-shaped separating plate, comprising
oscillatory angle adjusting mechanisms for varying an oscillatory
angle in rotative oscillation of the separating vessels.
A further object of the invention is to provide a rotatively
oscillating separator including a plurality of separating vessels
arranged in a compact and stacked relation.
These objects of the invention can be achieved by providing a
rotatively oscillating separator comprising at least one separating
vessel having a raised peripheral portion and a cone-shaped
separating plate disposed in the vessel, and drive means for
rotatively oscillating said separating vessel, mixed rice
consisting of unhulled rice and unpolished rice being fed onto the
separating plate in the separating vessel at a given location to
separate the unhulled rice and the unpolished rice from each other,
the unpolished rice being discharged through the raised peripheral
portion of the vessel, and the unhulled rice being discharged
through the central bottom of the separating vessel, characterized
in that said drive means comprises a plurality of oscillatory
drives provided at locations equi-angularly spaced around the
separating vessel, said oscillatory drives each being upwardly
inclined and operatively connected to the raised peripheral portion
of the separating vessel to support it, said oscillatory drives
being sequentially actuated at predetermined phases of delay to
generate oscillatory motion to be imparted to the separating
vessel, said each oscillatory drive including an oscillatory angle
adjusting mechanism for retaining the oscillatory drive at the
upward inclination and for varying an oscillatory angle in the
rotative oscillation of the separating vessel.
As mixed rice is fed onto the separating plate of the separating
vessel during rotative oscillation of the separating vessel,
unpolished rice which is small in grain size and is great in
specific gravity, is carried on the separating plate towards the
raised peripheral portion of the separating vessel under the action
of centrifugal force to exit the separating vessel through an
unhulled rice discharge port. The unhulled rice which is large in
grain size and less in specific gravity, slips off the separating
plate so that it passes through the central portion of the
separating plate. In case that the coefficient of friction,
moisture, and specific gravity of rice as in different kinds of
rice, take place, change, the oscillatory angle adjusting
mechanisms may be operated to vary the angle of oscillation in the
rotative oscillation of the separating vessel, thereby separating
the mixed rice into unpolished rice and unhulled rice on the
separating plate under an optimum condition.
In a preferred embodiment of the invention, each oscillatory drive
is provided in a support frame pivotally connected to a framework
of the separator by means of pivot pins and includes a motor, a
gearbox for transmission of rotation from the motor, a driving
shaft having at its top a crank-pin and connected to an output
shaft of the gearbox, a oscillatory plate having an eccentric shaft
and rotatably connected to the crank-pin, and means for preventing
the oscillatory plate from revolving together with the crank-pin,
and further comprising means for operatively connecting said
oscillatory drive to said separating vessel, said means including a
connecting member resiliently connected to the raised peripheral
portion of the separating vessel and having mounting hub, and a
follower rotatably connected to said eccentric shaft. Each of said
oscillatory angle adjusting mechanisms includes an adjusting screw
mechanism for rotating the support frame around the pivot pins to
vary the inclination of the support frame. Each adjusting screw
mechanism includes a internally threaded element freely movably
mounted in the support frame, a vertical adjusting screw rod
rotatably mounted in the framework for the rotatively oscillating
separator and having a externally threaded portion threaded into
the internally threaded element, and a hand-wheel for rotating the
adjusting screw rod.
As the hand-wheel is rotated, the action of the screw between the
external threads of the adjusting screw rod and the internally
threaded element permits the support frame to be rotated around the
pivot pins, thereby varying the angle of inclination of the
oscillatory drive. Thus, the oscillatory angle of the separating
vessel can be quickly and readily adjusted.
In a further preferred embodiment of the invention, the adjusting
screw mechanisms include a rotation transmitting mechanism
including sprockets on the adjusting screw rods and a chain engaged
around the sprockets to rotate the adjusting screw rods in a
synchronized relation.
In another embodiment, each adjusting screw mechanisms includes a
internally threaded element rotatably mounted in the framework, a
support element having an enlarged through-hole formed therein, and
rotatably mounted in said support frame, an adjusting screw rod
extending through said enlarged through-hole and having an
externally threaded portion threaded into said internally threaded
element, and lock nut means for fixedly holding said adjusting
screw rod in place. With the lock nut means loosen, the adjusting
screw rod is rotated to move it relative to the internally threaded
element, thereby varying the angle of inclination of the
oscillatory drive. Thus, the oscillatory angle of the separating
vessel can be quickly and readily adjusted.
In a further preferred embodiment of the invention, there are
provided a plurality of separating vessels disposed in a vertically
stacked relation, a plurality of sets of upper and lower
oscillatory drives are provided at locations equi-angularly spaced
around the separating vessels, said upper and lower oscillatory
drives of each set, are operatively connected through said
connecting member and resilient joints to said separating vessels
and include a common oscillatory angle adjusting mechanism for
retaining the oscillatory drives at the upward inclination and for
varying an oscillatory angle in the rotative oscillation of said
separating vessels.
In a still further preferred embodiment of the invention, there are
provided a plurality of separating vessels disposed in a vertically
stacked relation, a plurality of sets of upper and lower
oscillatory drives are provided at locations equi-angularly spaced
around the separating vessels, each of said upper and lower
oscillatory drives of each set, is operatively connected through
said connecting member and resilient joints to said stacked
separating vessels and includes an individual oscillatory angle
adjusting mechanism for retaining the oscillatory drive at the
upward inclination and for varying an oscillatory angle in the
rotative oscillation of said separating vessels.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION ON THE DRAWINGS
FIG. 1 is a schematic top plan view of a rotatively oscillating
separator constructed in accordance with the invention;
FIG. 2 is a schematic side elevation view of the rotatively
oscillating separator;
FIG. 3 is a schematic view representative of oscillatory motion of
separating vessels;
FIG. 4 is a schematic elevation view as viewed from arrow A in FIG.
2;
FIG. 5 is a perspective view of an oscillatory drive in the
rotatively oscillating separator;
FIG. 6 is a schematic side elevation view of a modification of the
rotatively oscillatory separator according to the invention;
FIG. 7 is a schematic elevation view as viewed from arrow B in FIG.
6; and
FIG. 8 is an enlarged fragmentary cross-sectional view of a portion
of FIG. 6.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION ON THE INVENTION
An embodiment of the invention is described hereinafter in detail
with reference to the accompanying drawings. Although in the
present embodiment, a rotatively oscillating separator for mixture
of unhulled rice and unpolished rice is described, it may be
employed for separation of wheat and impurities, rubber and
impurities, small chips of wood and impurities, buckwheat and
buckwheat shells, and plastics and impurities.
FIG. 1 is a schematic top plan view of the rotatively oscillating
separator constructed in accordance with the invention and FIG. 2
is a schematic side elevation view of the rotatively oscillating
separator. Referring to FIGS. 1 and 2, the rotatively oscillating
separator 1 comprises a plurality of separating vessels disposed in
a vertically stacked relation and each having a raised peripheral
portion 3 and a cone-shaped separating plate 5 with its central
bottom 2, the separating plate having a number of small recesses
formed on the surface thereof, drive means 6 for rotatively
oscillating the separating vessels, feed means 7 for feeding mixed
rice consisting of unhulled rice and unpolished rice, onto the
separating plates 5, circular unhulled rice discharge portions 8
for discharging the unhulled rice through the central portions 2 of
the separating plates 5, unpolished rice discharge ports 9 for
discharging unpolished rice through the raised peripheral portions
3 of the separating vessels 4. Unpolished rice discharge trough 11
is provided to be in communication with the discharge port 9 in the
raised peripheral portion 3 of each of the separating vessels 4,
and unpolished rice from each of the unpolished rice discharge
troughs 11 exits the separator through a common unpolished rice
shaft 12. Unhulled collecting portion 8A is provided below the
lowest of the staked separating vessels for collecting the unhulled
rice from the unhulled rice discharge portions and has a unpolished
rice discharge trough 13 connected thereto. Unhulled rice from the
discharge trough 13 exists the separator through another discharge
trough 14.
Drive means 6 comprises a pair of upper and lower oscillatory
drives 6A and 6B provided at each of three locations spaced
equi-angularly (in this case, through 120 degree) around the
separating vessels (see FIGS. 1 and 2). Oscillatory drives 6A and
6B each is mounted on a support frame 19 having its arms 20A, 20B
pivotally connected to vertical supports 17A, 17B of a framework 10
of the separator by means of pivot pins 21A, 21B, and retained in
an upwardly inclined position by means of an oscillatory angle
adjusting mechanism 40. The oscillatory drives of each pair are
operatively resiliently connected to the raise peripheral portions
of the separating vessels to support them. Three pairs of the
oscillatory drives are sequentially actuated in predetermined
delayed phases to generate elliptical oscillatory motion which is
transmitted through the operative resilient connection to the
stacked separating vessels so that wave-like rotative oscillatory
motion is imparted to each of the separating vessels (see FIG. 3).
The operative resilient connection can be accomplished by
connecting the peripheral portion 3 of each of the separating
vessels 4 through resilient joints 15 of urethane rubber to a
vertically elongate connecting member 16 which is connected to the
upper and lower oscillatory drives of each pair.
Referring to FIGS. 4, 5, and 7, Each of the oscillatory drives 6A,
6B includes a motor 26 and a gearbox 27 fixed to the bottom of the
support frame 19, a driving shaft 28 connected to an output shaft
of the gearbox 27 and mounted in the support frame for rotation,
the driving shaft 28 being provided at its top with a crank-pin 31,
a counterweight 29 fixed to a lower portion of the driving shaft 28
by a set-screw 30, a oscillatory plate 32a rotatably connected to
the crank-pin 31 on the driving shaft 28 and having an eccentric
shaft 32, and means for preventing the oscillatory plate 32a from
revolving together with the crank-pin in order to permit the
eccentric shaft 32 to describe an elliptical trace. The preventing
means comprises a rod 32c extending from the oscillatory plate 32a
and a pair of rubber rollers 32b, 32b rotatably mounted on the
support frame 19, between which the rod 32c is movably retained.
The eccentric shaft 32 is rotatably received from below in a
follower 33 which is pivotably connected to a mounting hub 34 by
means of a pin 35. The mounting hub 34 is secured to the connecting
member 16. The pin 35 is aligned with the pivot pins 21A,21B such
that the follower 33 can be pivoted around the pin 35 in the
mounting hub 34 upon pivotal movement of the support frame 19
around the pivot pins 21A, 21B.
Rotation of the motor 26 is transmitted through the gearbox 27 to
the driving shaft 28 to revolve the crank-pin 31 around the axis of
the driving shaft 28, thereby rotatively oscillating the
oscillatory plate 32a. Thus, the eccentric shaft 32 is
eccentrically revolved. The eccentric revolution of the eccentric
shaft 32 is transmitted to the follower 33 from which the
oscillatory motion is imparted through the connecting member 16 and
the resilient joints 15 to the separating vessels as indicated by
an arrow in FIG. 4.
Referring to FIGS. 2, 4, and 5, the oscillatory angle adjusting
mechanism 40 includes an adjusting screw mechanism 40A provided for
pivotal movement of the support frames 19 around the pivot pins
21A, 21B to vary the angle of inclination of the support frames 19
for the upper and lower oscillatory drives. The adjusting screw
mechanism 40A includes a vertical adjusting screw rod 18 rotatably
supported in upper and lower bearings 38 and 39 mounted on the
framework 10 and having externally threaded portions 24, and
internally threaded elements 25 mounted in brackets 22 of the
support frames 19 of the upper and lower oscillatory drives, for
lateral movement relative to the brackets and threadedly engaged
with the externally threaded portions 24 of the adjusting screw rod
18. The adjusting screw rod 18 is provided with a hand-wheel 23 to
rotate the screw rod. Rotation of the adjusting screw rod 18
permits internally threaded elements 25 to move up and down along
the screw rod 18 due to threaded engagement with its externally
threaded portions 25, thereby rotating or swinging each of the
support frames 19 around pivot pins 21A,21B. This can result in
variation in the angle of inclination of the oscillatory
drives.
Fixed to lower end portions of the adjusting screw rods 18 for
three pairs of oscillatory drives are sprockets 36 around which a
chain 37 is engaged to rotatively drive the screw rods
simultaneously. Thus, rotation of one of the adjusting screw rods
18 is transmitted to the other two adjusting screw rods by means of
the sprocket.cndot.chain in a synchronized relation so that the
three adjusting screw rods 18 will have identical amount of
rotation.
In a modification of the invention as illustrated in FIGS. 6, 7,
and 8, a adjusting screw mechanism 40a is provided for each of
oscillatory drives and includes an internally threaded element 25a
rotatably mounted in a framework 10 for a rotatively oscillating
separator and having internal threads, a support element 22c
mounted in brackets 22a of a support frame 19 for rotation and
having an enlarged through-hole 22b formed therein, an adjusting
screw rod 18a having an externally threaded portion 24a threadedly
engaged with the internal threads in the internally threaded
element 25a while extending through the enlarged through-hole 22b,
and lock nut means 18b threadedly engaged with external threads
formed on the adjusting screw rod 18a to lock the adjusting screw
rod 18a to the support element 22c. The adjusting screw rod 18a is
preferably provided with a hexagon head which is adapted to
cooperate with for example, a spanner in order to make it ease to
turn the screw rod. With the lock nut 18b loosen, the adjusting
screw rod is turned by the use of the spanner so that the external
threads 24a are screwed into or out of the internally threaded
element 25a. Thus, the support frame 19 is rotated or swung around
pivot pins 21A,21B to be capable of varying the angle of
inclination of the oscillatory drives. Thereafter, the lock nut 18a
is tightened to hold the adjusting screw rod in place. In order to
ensure that the identical angle of inclination is provided to all
the oscillatory drives, angular graduations are provided on the
support frame 19 while an indicator P is attached to a support of
the framework 10 and has a window P1 through which one can view an
alignment with an intended graduation.
Operation of the rotatively oscillating separator according to the
invention will be described below. The oscillatory drives impart
rotative oscillatory motion to the separating vessels 4 and mixed
rice consisting of unhulled rice and unpolished rice to be
separated, is fed through the feed means 7 onto the separating
plates 5 of the separating vessels 4. Due to the fact that the
nearer to the periphery of the vessels 5, the greater the
acceleration and the separating plates 5 have a conical slope,
unpolished rice which is small in grain size and is great in
specific gravity, is carried radially outwardly towards the raised
peripheral portion of the separating vessels on their separating
plates under the action of centrifugal force so that it is
discharged through unpolished rice discharge ports 9, and
unpolished rice discharge troughs 11 into unpolished rice discharge
shaft 12 to exist the separator. The unhulled rice which is large
in grain size and less in specific gravity, slips off the
separating plates 5 so that it is discharged through the central
portions of the separating plates into unhulled collecting portion
8A from which the collected unhulled rice passes through unpolished
rice discharge trough 13 and discharge trough 14 to exist the
separator.
The ability of the rotatively oscillating separator to separate the
mixed rice remains unchanged as long as physical properties such as
moisture, coefficient of friction of the rice do not change.
However, if changes in moisture and coefficient of friction of rice
as in the case of different kinds of rice, take place, the
unpolished rice can be difficult to be carried towards the
periphery of the separating vessels 4. In order to increase the
ability to carry the unpolished rice, operation is effected to
reduce the oscillatory angle of the separating vessels. On the
contrary, if unhulled rice is carried along with unpolished rice
towards the periphery of the separating vessels 4, the oscillatory
angle of the vessels 4 is increased for reduction in the ability to
carry the mixed rice.
As the hand-wheel 23 is rotatively operated to rotate the adjusting
screw rods 18 for variation in the angle of inclination of the
support frames 19, the followers 33 are pivoted around the pins 35
in the mounting hubs 34 to vary the oscillatory angle of the
separating vessels. It will be appreciated from FIG. 2 that the
support frames 19 are angularly moved from their solid
line-position to their broken line-position so that oscillatory
angle .alpha. of the separating vessels can be increased to
.beta..
Since according to the invention, the rotative operation of the
hand-wheel results in derivation in the oscillatory angle of all
the stacked separating vessels rather than varying the oscillatory
angle of each of the separating vessels, the adjustment of the
angle can be readily made in a short time to provide an optimum
separation of the unpolished rice and unhulled rice on the
separating plates. It will be appreciated that the same advantage
can also be provided in the case of the modification of the
invention in which adjustment of the angle of inclination of each
of the oscillatory drives is made by the individual adjusting screw
rod. Since the drive means are disposed around the separating
vessels, a small space is only required between the two adjacent
separating vessels in the case of the stacked vessels so that the
entire rotatively oscillating separator can be made more compact.
The rotatively oscillating separator according to the invention has
a significantly improved throughput capacity as compared with a
single separating vessel.
From the foregoing, it will be apparent that the present invention
provides the rotatively oscillating separator such arranged that
the drive means impart oscillatory motion to the stacked separating
vessels and that the oscillatory angle adjusting mechanisms are
capable of varying the oscillatory angle of the stacked separating
vessels.
* * * * *